Application Note: Improved concrete testing and reduced construction times by duplicating real-world conditions

Customer Requirement

CSIRO Manufacturing & Infrastructure Technology (CMIT) was asked to develop a best practice method for testing the cure and strength of structural concrete in the field. Ideally, test samples should be cured under the same conditions as the structure in the field. The aim being to allow for formwork to be removed and construction advanced at the earliest possible time, as soon as the concrete has reached adequate strength. Normal testing requires large margins for error due to variations in ambient conditions between test and field site locations.

Equipment

• DT800 data logger
• DT50 data logger
• DeLogger 4 Pro
• PSTN Modem
• DSM Modem
• Water Bath
• Heating and Cooling System
• Sensors: Thermocouples

dataTaker Solution

The poured concrete structure uses thermocouples and a dataTaker DT50 to record actual field temperatures, the DT50 is connected to a GSM modem. After each concrete pour, a number of test samples are transported to the CMIT laboratory for immersion in a water bath. The temperature of this bath is monitored and controlled by the DT800. Reference temperature setpoints are obtained from the remote DT50 via a PSTN modem connected to the DT800’s Serial Sensor Channel and the GSM modem connected to the DT50. At regular intervals the DT800 contacts the DT50 and unloads measured data from the last period. This data is checked for errors by the dataTaker data logger program and then used to set the temperature of the water bath holding the test samples. DeLogger 4 is used to chart the field and test sample temperatures for reference in the laboratory. The process adopted gives accurate replication of site conditions and provides data suitable for improving management of the curing process.